Visiting Glacier National Park in December

I grew up listening to my grandparents rave about the Glacier National Park’s beauty. This park has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, even before visiting all 62 US National Parks became my #1 bucket list goal. Finally visiting Glacier National Park was such a dream. I’ve already been back once since my first visit and plan to visit again in the future!

A Winter Visit to Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park was established on May 11th, 1910, making it the 8th oldest US National Park. The park exceeds 1M acres and has 762 lakes. There’s no shortage of beauty in this incredible park.

Per the NPS website, “Visiting Glacier National Park this time of year provides the self-reliant visitor a chance to experience the park in one of its quieter seasons. Changeable weather and road conditions requires a flexible schedule and a bit of a spirit of adventure.“

If you plan on visiting Glacier National Park in December know that Going-to-the-Sun Road is open from West Glacier to Avalanche Creek, weather permitting, through mid-December. In mid-December the vehicle closure is moved to Lake McDonald Lodge for the remainder of the winter (per the NPS website). Always check the NPS website for the most up-to-date road conditions.

Glacier National Park Map

Glacier National Park Weather in December

Spoiler alert: It’s cold. It’s difficult to provide an average because the weather can be extremely unpredictable. Most of the time, you can expect temps in the 30s during the day and in the teens at night. It snows often so be prepared for that!

Getting There

While there are seven total entrances to Glacier, only the West Glacier entrance is open during the wintertime. The visitor centers were closed and there was not an entry attendant in the booth. You are expected to pay your entry fee by downloading an app on your phone (there will be a QR code on the map to the right of the entry station to download the app). The winter rate is $25 and the pass you receive is good for 7 days. If you prefer to purchase your pass in advance, you may do so here.

Also Read: Road Trip Essentials For Your Next Adventure

Be Prepared

Here are a few of the things we did to prepare for our trip:

• Monitor the forecast closely.
• Make sure to rent a 4WD vehicle.
• If you plan to hike, get traction for your shoes.
• Carry kitty litter in your vehicle just in case (this might sound weird but if you get stuck, you can pour a thin layer of kitty litter right in front of your tires for traction).
• Make sure your gas tank is FULL before you enter the park. There are no gas stations in the park. The nearest gas stations are located in West Glacier (credit card only) and Coram, six miles west of West Glacier on Hwy 2.
• Have a stash of food, water, and warm weather gear in your car in case of emergency. There are grocery stores outside the park in Hungry Horse and Columbia Falls.
• If you’re hiking, carry a day pack with the essentials such as food, water, and a first aid kit. This is a great list to look over.
• Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you won’t see wildlife. Whitetail deer are the most commonly seen critters in the winter (and that’s all we saw), but it’s better to be safe than sorry. It doesn’t hurt to carry some bear spray (note: you cannot fly with bear spray, even in a checked bag, so this is something you would need to purchase upon arrival if flying)!

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Best Spots for Sight-Seeing in the Winter

There are SO many good spots to sight-see in Glacier. I mean, you can’t really go wrong anywhere in the park BUT it is important to be mindful of the fact that much of the park is closed during wintertime. Here are a few of the best spots to check out during wintertime!

Lake McDonald

There are plenty of spots along Going-to-the-Sun Road where you can get out and admire Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the entire park. The lake is around 10 miles along and the mountains in the background provide breathtaking views.

McDonald Falls

This is a roadside waterfall in the park (it’s right off Going-to-the-Sun Road). You take a short trail down to a bridge that you can walk across to get a better view of the falls. It’s the perfect spot for photos! You’ll be in awe of the color of the water.

Best Winter Hikes in Glacier National Park

In case you missed it, get traction for your shoes if you plan to hike! I’m reiterating this because much of the trail we hiked on was a sheet of ice. You can also snowshoe or cross country ski in the park during the wintertime!

Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake

This trail is 5.7 miles out & back through an extremely dense forest with beautiful views of Avalanche Creek along the way. The trail is hilly but not too challenging. We did this hike, and I highly recommend it! There were even a few brave souls ice skating on the lake when we got there. I can see why this is one of the most popular trails in the park.

Apgar Lookout Trail

This trail is 7.1 miles out & back with a steady incline throughout. Unlike the Trail of the Cedars to Avalanche Lake, this one is pretty exposed (something worth noting in case it’s windy). The trail offers beautiful views of Flathead River and the surrounding mountains.

Glacier National Park Lodging

One of my favorite things about traveling during the off-season, other than missing the crowds, is being able to find accommodations for amazing prices! My husband and I actually stayed in Bozeman, MT and drove up to Glacier National Park. However, if you want to stay closer to the park, I highly recommend staying somewhere in the Whitefish area as this will put you close to the West Glacier entrance.

Booking.com

Have you ever visited Glacier National Park? If so, during what season did you visit? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!!